Tuesday, February 7, 2017

DeVos Survives Confirmation Battle But Her Agenda May Not

Hundreds of educators, parents, civil rights activists, and U.S. senators assembled across from the U.S. Capitol on Monday evening to urge “just one more” senator to stand up and cast the deciding ‘no’ vote on Betsy DeVos as U.S. Education Secretary. Coming on the eve of the confirmation vote, the rally was the final exclamation point of a nationwide mobilization against a nominee whom educators consider dangerously unqualified to lead our public schools.

With all 48 Democrats already united against her, DeVos was suddenly hanging by a thread. Only one more GOP vote was needed.

Already deluged with emails and phone calls, senate offices from both parties were hit again over the weekend.

“Your calls and outreach have been amazing,” Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut told the rally on Monday evening. “You’ve really freaked out a lot of my GOP colleagues.”

In the end, however, that last ‘no’ vote proved elusive. DeVos was confirmed on Tuesday when Vice President Mike Pence had to cast a vote to break the 50-50 deadlock – the first time in the nation’s history this action was necessary to approve a cabinet nominee.

Despite the disappointing outcome, the mobilization against DeVos shook Capitol Hill and the White House.